Just returned observations

[cw1982]

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

 

[jlsHouston]

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

No, it will be a wonderful trip. I am really picky and hard to please, and I have been spending 5 figures on trips to WDW for the past 3 years and I am not stopping yet. In spite of the lack of really good new attractions, in spite of maintenance issues, in spite of this crappy change with the FP system that I don't much care for or at least the version I am getting in this testing stage, in spite of crowded parks and expensive resort and food costs.
It has been worth every dollar. It's been literally like the mastercard moment commercial. You will have a ball. You may wonder why you waited 13 years to return. You will want to start planning your next trip as a family with children in tow.
I am serious, truly WDW is magical. Still. And if the love that exists for it just on this board alone is any gauge will be for years to come. Iger and his crowd may have let it run down and not taken care of their charge properly but it would take a sinkhole to remove the magic of WDW. Even then, it would be in the memories and the pictures of people like all of us so it will never die.
Go have a wonderful vacation and don't worry.

 

[Emerald Rose]

My family and i just returned from our 9 day WDW vacation and I thought I would provide some observations. We've been going to WDW annually and some times 2 or 3 times a years so we're Disney World veterans. I'll start by saying that we still felt the "Disney Magic" however there are some things I thought were worthy of discussing. First, we are very disappointed in the Fast Pass+ system as it requires way too much advanced planning and does not provide much in terms of flexibility. We like to park hop and in the current Fast Pass system you're forced to choose Fast Passes just in one park. Also, if you're like us, sometime we're spontaneous and choose a different park than the one we originally planned to visit. Now we could still do that but good luck getting a decent fast pass time.
We also were able to try the Be Our Guest restaurant for the first time and I would say it is very, very overrated. The atmosphere is nice but the menu is not appealing to most (especially picky eaters) and the prices are ridiculous even for Disney. Also on the topic of restaurants we also were able to get into LeCellier and I was SHOCKED by the prices. For example a Ribeye steak was priced at $65.00!! Even the finest dining establishments don't charge that much. in addition, the service was not up to par with prior visits and we will likely not make advanced dining reservations there again. We still had a great time, but it seems to be getting more sterile and not so much of a vacation experience. I'm happy to answer any questions.

WDW veterans here as well. Just returned too. Thank you for sharing. Main concern we found was the new policy regarding the ADR's...the $10 charge per person if not cancelled the previous day. I really wish I could think of an alternative to this policy. I fully understand why the policy was put into place but while we are always responsible with our reservations sometimes realistically issues come up. Very hard with our schedules to make reservations so far in advance. We ate mainly in Quick service this time around. We find it magical nonetheless.

 

[cw1982]

No, it will be a wonderful trip. I am really picky and hard to please, and I have been spending 5 figures on trips to WDW for the past 3 years and I am not stopping yet. In spite of the lack of really good new attractions, in spite of maintenance issues, in spite of this crappy change with the FP system that I don't much care for or at least the version I am getting in this testing stage, in spite of crowded parks and expensive resort and food costs.
It has been worth every dollar. It's been literally like the mastercard moment commercial. You will have a ball. You may wonder why you waited 13 years to return. You will want to start planning your next trip as a family with children in tow.
I am serious, truly WDW is magical. Still. And if the love that exists for it just on this board alone is any gauge will be for years to come. Iger and his crowd may have let it run down and not taken care of their charge properly but it would take a sinkhole to remove the magic of WDW. Even then, it would be in the memories and the pictures of people like all of us so it will never die.
Go have a wonderful vacation and don't worry.

Thank you! I needed to hear this.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

That statement right there is part of the problem with WDW restaurants. Guests going to a place like Le Cellier and expecting burgers.

You can hardly blame a guest for going to a restaurant and being surprised that they no longer serve food they used to serve.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

I wrote this Trip Report a year ago (Jan 2013). It was my family's first trip to WDW in 15 years. It might be of interest to you.

 

[wdisney9000]

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

Your gonna be fine and your gonna have a blast. FP+ will not ruin your trip. Most of the things people comment about are in regards to the once high standards Disney had. (maintenance, cleanliness, CM's). I and complain about all of these because I grew up with the higher standards Disney once had but when I visit I still have fun. I just notice things like the lights out at GF or Dasani water bottles on the side of the track on SSE descent and it es me off especially when they keep raising prices. The beer at World Showcase helps though! lol. I guess thats why Epcot is my favorite park now. Dont let the little things bother you and you will be fine. Cant wait to read your TR if you write one. Have fun!!!!

 

[wdisney9000]

Just curious if you've ever traveled to WDW with children. It is MUCH easier to have one parent split from the group and "run" to get fastpasses. Getting to a park at RD, being swallowed by the crowd "running" for TSMM is not what I want to put my children through. Therefore, I would "run" to get legacy FPs and meet up with my family over at Star Tours or any other attraction they wanted to ride. This is how it would go for every park. I actually like the idea of not having to drag everyone to RD every morning. Yes, it takes some more planning, but it works for us. I understand it doesn't work for everyone.

I dont have kids but have been many times with my 5 nieces and nephew since they were born. (yeah, we get the Disney indoctrination started early in my family, lol) I loved racing to attractions at RD as a kid and share the same fun with the kids now. What kid doesnt love the thrill of being the first one there? I never felt "swallowed" by the crowds. Its fun. And lets be honest, if your there at RD you can casually stroll to a ride like TSMM with the whole family and get a FP then head to Star Tours and get right on. People make it seem like RD is some kind of cage match wrestling brawl and your kicking and punching your way through. Far from it. Unless you go into it with a bad attitude.

Ill repeat what I said in a different thread. My family still tells our stories of racing to Space Mountain at RD and running along side other families and all high fiving each other when we got there. Even high fiving complete strangers because we had that bond of racing at RD and we all did it together. It was awesome. We would walk down the star tunnel laughing and joking. We met a lot of cool people and have awesome memories from it. I want my kids and nieces and nephew to have that. I dont want them to have memories of booking a FP on the couch in our resort the night before. Thats lame. It may be convenient, but its lame.

I'll take great memories with family any day over convenience. You may look at it as, "dragging your family through running people". I look at it as, "we are together doing the same crazy Disney stuff I did as a kid" My nephew always asks if he is as fast as I was when we race at RD. I love that he thinks that way and he could care less about what time we ride TSMM, as long as we ride and have fun.

 

[morningstar]

As far as running to catch up with your party I never understood the necessity to HAVE TO do everything together. You obviously split up earlier so whats the big rush to meet back up? If Soarin is a "must do" as a group, then dont split up if you have Fp's and there is no need to run across the park. Its not Disneys fault you decided to split up and now blame the need to run back on them, not on your lack of proper planning. Not necessarily you, but anyone who felt they had to race around the parks due to legacy FP. It took basic planning to achieve maximum FP's for the day. Much less planning than MM+ and you didnt have to plan it 60 days out.

To clarify: I only split up to go get the Fastpass. We could have all run across the park to get Fastpasses, or walked but that would waste more time. Or we could have all waited until we got to Soarin' to get Fastpasses, but then we'd have to hang out in the area until our time. It seemed efficient to run ahead. Obviously optional but would be nice if you could achieve the same thing without sprinting.

 

[disney4life2008]

I find that alot of people overrate many disney products, attractions, and services (even more so on this board). BOG has been hyped since day 1 and to this day I still do not understand the hoopla. The menu looks absolutely disgusting to me - but I guess it is nice to dine in the castle. If I could just walk through then head to Pecos Bills I will be a happy camper, lol.

As for the food prices - they are really out of control. Burgers are above $10 and in some places they are adding shrimp or other add ons to increase to $12. There is no way chicken nuggets should be the price they are. Ohana is still a deal but I know only time will tell before changes are on the way.

But the same can be said about the value resorts. Anyone who spends $150 plus at Sports, Music, Movies is crazy! Do not get my started on the moderates.

As for the magic - it is slowly going away. There is pixie dusts at certain places or points. The MK remains pixie dust heaven - the CMs from arrival through the time you leave are all making our day magical. I can not say the same about the other parks (though, I really love AK CMs - they go out there way to get a smile). Disney has always followed a business model but with FP+ I think it creates a barrier of technology that forces the CMs to be technical vs just be magical. So my experience was that a lot of the CM magic is decreasing because they do not fully understand the system - that combined with guests that are clueless creates anarchy. Of course, over time this will likely dramatically improve.

 

[BuddyThomas]

That statement right there is part of the problem with WDW restaurants. Guests going to a place like Le Cellier and expecting burgers.

I dunno. Doesn't every steak house in America offer a burger option? Not everyone in a party wants a steak. A few might not even want meat and might be getting dragged along. A burger option doesn't seem an unreasonable expectation to me.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

It will be amazing. It's good to plan ahead to get the most out of trip, and that's what you're doing!

Some of these posters are absolute experts on Disney (not me), the way someone else might be an expert or wine or classical music. They are the Gordon Ramseys of the entire park system, noticing small flaws in presentation (even the business side) that I would never notice. Like Ramsey, they can also get a little emotional when it doesn't meet their level of expectations.

I for one am glad they exist to share their views, but I try to remember it IS the view of an expert, and I'll simply never experience the problems they see.

JMHO.

 

[morningstar]

Ill repeat what I said in a different thread. My family still tells our stories of racing to Space Mountain at RD and running along side other families and all high fiving each other when we got there. Even high fiving complete strangers because we had that bond of racing at RD and we all did it together. It was awesome. We would walk down the star tunnel laughing and joking. We met a lot of cool people and have awesome memories from it. I want my kids and nieces and nephew to have that. I dont want them to have memories of booking a FP on the couch in our resort the night before. Thats lame. It may be convenient, but its lame.

Yeah, yeah. I ran 5 miles to Space Mountain at rope drop in the snow both ways when I was a kid too. No one is taking that away from you. You can book a Fastpass for Thunder Mountain from your couch at home a month before, and run to Space Mountain at rope drop. It seems to me FP+ means you can run for an attraction at rope drop rather than running for a FP, which is more anticlimactic.

 

[NearTheEars]

Being a local AP that doesn't spend all day at the parks, FP+ has been fantastic so far.
We're able to book the 3 we want in advance and wait standby between our reservations.
So it makes for a great, stress-free 4 or 5 hours. Then we have time to hit up the outlets, malls or DTD and head home.
BUT as I said in my first person review in the MyMagic+ section, it works great for us and the way we tour the parks. We aren't there on a week-long vacation.

 

[Daxiegirl]

But the same can be said about the value resorts. Anyone who spends $150 plus at Sports, Music, Movies is crazy! Do not get my started on the moderates.

I'll bite. Please explain with regard to the moderates...unless it's going to stress you out I'm curious since this fall will be our first trip.

 

[wdisney9000]

Yeah, yeah. I ran 5 miles to Space Mountain at rope drop in the snow both ways when I was a kid too. No one is taking that away from you. You can book a Fastpass for Thunder Mountain from your couch at home a month before, and run to Space Mountain at rope drop. It seems to me FP+ means you can run for an attraction at rope drop rather than running for a FP, which is more anticlimactic.

excellent point. I dont feel FP+ takes that away at all. I was just comparing it to when people make legacy FP seem like it was totally insane. It wasnt that bad. I was younger then, so who knows, maybe im wrong.

 

[Goofnut1980]

We won't go back to Le Cellier anytime soon. We went last year and the food was less than stellar... I am starting to do more of the restaurants at the resorts. They seem to be run better and the food is much better!

 

[disney4life2008]

I'll bite. Please explain with regard to the moderates...unless it's going to stress you out I'm curious since this fall will be our first trip.

Its not just the moderates its all the resorts. The prices are severely inflated and overpriced - but that is also because I am a cheap person. Do not get me wrong, the moderates are nice - I love Carribbean Beach and PORFQ; and I can not even though the expensive hotels. I am just a cheapskate - if I can not get a rate cheaper than $65 at the values I do not stay on property

 

[gooftroop5]

excellent point. I dont feel FP+ takes that away at all. I was just comparing it to when people make legacy FP seem like it was totally insane. It wasnt that bad. I was younger then, so who knows, maybe im wrong.

I don't think legacy FP was totally insane. We just tour differently. We let the kids sleep in and get to the parks when we get there. RD is not fun for us because we stay late and enjoy low crowds and less heat in the summer. By the time we get to the parks all the FPs for the big attractions were gone. FP+ just works for us. We don't enjoy running to be first in line at RD.

Ok... I'm going to be 100% honest here.

As someone who hasn't been to WDW in about 13 years, some of the things I read on here scare me and make me feel like dh and I are spending all this time and money on a trip that is going to be substandard. This trip is very important to us, as it is (hopefully) the last trip we will be taking as a kid-free couple. Are things at WDW really as bad as people seem to be implying, or is some of that being exaggerated? We're in our early 30's, so I'm honestly not too worried about things being completely "magical" but I do want to enjoy our trip and get to enjoy the rides, have a few drinks and good meals, and be able to relax a little.

Am I hoping for too much?!?

But back to the OPs observations. We've been going for years and have noticed times are changing. I am a teacher and have noticed a huge change in my students (and their parents) and the younger teachers coming into the school over the past several years. With technology evolving we, as a society, are wanting things quickly and easily. Entitlement has also set in. It isn't everyone, but in some way it is affecting everyone.

Going to Disney is what we make it. Just stay positive and have fun. Don't let others ruin your trip. We get lost in the magic and end up creating it ourselves with our kids. You are going to have a BLAST!

 

[cw1982]

I don't think legacy FP was totally insane. We just tour differently. We let the kids sleep in and get to the parks when we get there. RD is not fun for us because we stay late and enjoy low crowds and less heat in the summer. By the time we get to the parks all the FPs for the big attractions were gone. FP+ just works for us. We don't enjoy running to be first in line at RD.



But back to the OPs observations. We've been going for years and have noticed times are changing. I am a teacher and have noticed a huge change in my students (and their parents) and the younger teachers coming into the school over the past several years. With technology evolving we, as a society, are wanting things quickly and easily. Entitlement has also set in. It isn't everyone, but in some way it is affecting everyone.

Going to Disney is what we make it. Just stay positive and have fun. Don't let others ruin your trip. We get lost in the magic and end up creating it ourselves with our kids. You are going to have a BLAST!

Hmm... I wonder if you consider me to be one of those "younger" teachers? LOL... I'm 31. I'm in my 8th year of teaching. If I think back, I do see a huge difference in my current students and the ones I taught my first year or two, but part of that is the fact that I'm in a different school now... I went from very rural to very urban; same sets of problems but for opposite reasons, to an extent.

I fully intend to stay positive... it's just that I tend to over think things as it is, so it's easy for me to get caught up in the critical posts and wonder about how much of those posts are things that will impact my trip. We're going for six days, so I doubt we'll have issues with finding time to do everything we really want to do, but it's easy to let my mind wander.